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Key takeaway: Online psychology degrees are offered at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level by accredited schools nationwide, and psychology is the foundational academic route to clinical and counseling licensure. A master’s degree is typically required for clinical licensure and a doctorate for psychologist roles, with requirements set by state licensing boards. Related occupations pay a median $59,350 to $193,950 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025)1. Compare accredited programs below.
An online psychology degree explores how people think, learn, and behave, combining theory, research, and applied practice across human services, mental health, and organizational settings. Accredited online programs deliver the same curriculum and degree titles as campus programs; browse the best accredited online colleges to compare schools that offer them. For graduate study, APA accredits doctoral programs in psychology and CACREP accredits master’s-level counseling programs.
These accredited schools offer online programs, report psychology completions, and are ordered by our independent BOC Score. Request information to compare programs, costs, and formats.
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education SchoolsIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Can You Get A Psychology Degree Online? explains how accredited online psychology programs work, including specializations, cost, and salary outcomes.
Browse psychology programs by state ->
Online psychology programs explore how people think, learn, and behave. Coursework includes research methods, statistics, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and ethics.
Common online levels include a bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) and a master’s degree in psychology. Master’s programs may offer specializations such as clinical or counseling, industrial-organizational, educational or school, forensic, or health or sports psychology.
A bachelor’s degree is a foundation for advanced study, but it does not qualify for independent clinical practice. Licensure typically requires a master’s degree and 2,000-4,000 supervised clinical hours, with requirements varying by state. Doctoral degrees (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) are generally required to practice as a licensed psychologist.
Students should verify institutional accreditation from a recognized regional accrediting body through the U.S. Department of Education database. For graduate programs, APA accredits doctoral programs in psychology, and CACREP accredits master’s-level counseling programs.
A BA typically emphasizes liberal arts and communication, while a BS emphasizes research, statistics, and quantitative analysis. Both qualify graduates for similar career paths and graduate school admission.
Higher degree levels open significantly different career paths in psychology, from undergraduate support roles to clinical licensure at the master’s level.
| Degree Level | Credits | Typical Duration | Salary Range | Common Roles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate | 60-64 | 2 years | $32,000-$42,000 | Social services assistant, case aide |
| Bachelor’s | 120-128 | 4 years | $42,000-$65,000 | Career counselor, HR specialist, case manager |
| Master’s | 36-60 | 2-3 years | $55,000-$95,000 | Clinical counselor, marriage therapist, school psychologist |
Salary ranges are approximate and reflect entry-level to mid-career earnings based on BLS data1 and program surveys.
A 4-year bachelor’s degree costs between $24,000 (public in-state) and $180,000 (private nonprofit) based on NCES IPEDS tuition data; many online programs charge the same rate regardless of residency. For lower-cost options and the full value discussion, see Affordable Psychology Programs, our guide to the affordable online degrees, and Is a Psychology Degree Worth It.
Online psychology programs blend theory, research methodology, and applied practice – core coursework spans research methods and statistics, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology and mental health, social psychology, biological and cognitive psychology, and ethics in practice. Many programs let you focus through a specialization such as clinical or counseling, industrial-organizational, school, forensic, or health and sports psychology.
See the full breakdown on the Psychology Curriculum and Psychology Concentrations pages.
Psychology graduates apply their skills in healthcare, education, human services, business, and research settings. Support and counseling-assistant roles are accessible with a bachelor’s; clinical, counseling, and psychologist roles generally require a master’s or doctorate plus supervised hours and state licensure.
| Career | Median Salary | Job Growth (2024-2034) | Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $95,830 | 11.2% | 4,800 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $109,840 | 6.3% | 400 |
| School Psychologist | $86,930 | 0.7% | 3,800 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $65,140 | 3.5% | 31,000 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $63,780 | 12.6% | 7,700 |
| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor | $59,190 | 16.8% | 48,300 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $68,090 | 7.7% | 18,400 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $60,060 | 9.7% | 13,500 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Job growth projections from BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Clinical practice requires graduate education and supervised hours. A bachelor’s degree in psychology serves as a foundation for advanced study but does not qualify for independent clinical practice. A master’s degree is the minimum for counseling licensure in most states, while a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) is generally required to practice as a licensed psychologist.
Licensure requirements typically include a graduate degree from an accredited program, 2,000-4,000 hours of supervised clinical experience (varies by state), passing a national licensing exam (EPPP for psychologists, NCE for counselors), and ongoing continuing education for renewal.
Alternative clinical paths include Social Work (MSW) and Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), plus certifications in applied areas such as behavior analysis (BCBA).
Psychology or a related field? Choose psychology for the behavioral-science foundation and clinical licensure pathway; explore criminal justice or healthcare for adjacent applied tracks.
Compare programs by level or specialty:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034. ↩︎ ↩︎
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